The Need For Standards

The Need For Standards

By Bobbi Thompson, Executive Vice President, Airport Business Solutions

September 2002

The FAA’s latest A.C., and why minimums can make a difference
About the Author
Bobbi Thompson serves as executive vice president for Atlanta-based Airport Business Solutions and manager of the firm’s Florida office. She has spent more than 30 years in aviation, including airport management, FBO ownership, is a world record pilot, and is active in AAAE and NATA, among others. She can be reached at (941) 573-9647.

On June 10, 2002, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued Change 1 to Advisory Circular 150/5190-5 Exclusive Rights and Minimum Standards for Commercial Aeronautical Activities. Bobbi Thompson, actively involved in analysis of the A.C. and its revisions, reviews the changes and the overall reasons such standards are important.

Most of the changes were in the general layout and additional information added for clarification on a few important topics, as shown in the nearby chart.
Perhaps one of the most important messages is the time and effort the FAA has spent in both the 2000 and 2002 Advisory Circulars on this subject. The FAA highly recommends airport owners develop fair and reasonable standards for the commercial operators on their airports and that the documents are specific to their airport facility.
Minimum Standards Comparison AC 150/5190-5
1. Not available on FAA website
2. Section 3: Proprietary Exclusive for aeronautical activities with certain exemptions
3. Section C3-1; Land Use Identification Plan
4. Section C3-2; Airport Property Map
5. Section 3-e; Restrictions on Self-Service
6. Section 2-7
8. Section 2-7a
9. Section 2-8
10. No corresponding section
11. Appendix 1; Definitions AC 150/5190-5 Change 1
1. Available at www.faa.gov
2. Corresponding Section 1-3; adds the ability of a corporation to self-fuel its own aircraft
3. Omitted
4. Omitted
5. Note added; Commercial self-service fueling as defined in the Appendix is not considered self-fueling (unmanned card reader self-serve islands)
6. Section 2-2b (1) and (2) added; a sponsor may impose restrictions on the manner in which an activity is conducted on an airport. This type of restriction should be based on safety concerns and may affect the runways or taxiways on which certain aircraft types are allowed to operate, based on specified maximum gross weight or wheel loading or operational efficiency. The sponsor may also impose restrictions that apply to the general public. FAA will make the final determination of the reasonableness of an airport owner’s restriction.
8. Section 2-2c; Additional information added discussing the importance of tailoring minimum standards to each individual airport
9. Section 2-3; Through-the-Fence Operator, new language added; discusses FAA concerns regarding this type of activity
10. Section 2-3b; Independent Operators. This addition addresses a non-tenant wanting to provide commercial aeronautical services on the airport
11. Appendix. Definitions added, including: Airport District Office; commercial self-service fueling; independent operator; proprietary exclusive.